corporate venues & entertainment 5

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OUTDOORUniversity ofCentral Lancashire

Nowbooking forthe 2008/9

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Corporate Venues & Entertainment Winter 2007 3

Contents

In this issue...10

Editorial Office Advertising Office

PO Box 7433 Venues Magazine.

Milton Keynes, MK14 6WQ Open Box Publishing,

Tel: 01908 232596 Tel: 0121 608 2300

Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

Features Editor: Graham McCann Contributors: Adam Baggs, Sarah Evans, Freddie Alexander, Simon Stewart, Hamish Reid, Ella Salt, Nadeem Ansari.

Advertising sales: Open Box Publishing Distribution: Paula Dodds, Presstream

Designers: Ben Taylor, Richard Legg (CLE Print) Printed by: CLE Print, St Ives, Cambridgeshire

© Corporate Venues & Entertainment Magazine Limited. No part of this publication may be copied or reproduced without the prior permission of the publisher, but we’re a pretty relaxed

bunch so cross our palms with a Cadbury’s Crème Egg and we’re likely to agree to pretty much anything. The contents and advertisements of this magazine are compiled and published in

good faith and the publisher accepts no liability for any claim arising from them whether the loss is direct or indirect. The opinions expressed may not be those of the publishers.

Corporate Venues & Entertainment www.CorporateVenuesMagazine.co.uk

News p4Latest research shows 63 percent increase in exhibition generated revenue.

Movers p3The movers and the groovers.

Awards p6Top scores for Warwick Conferences.

Ideas & Products p7Londonlaunch.com creates Event Planner on Facebook®.

Teambuilding p8Lifeguards go ape!

Exclusive! p10We meet Lord Bath of Longleat.

Design p15Feeling blue at The Berkeley.

Purpose-built venues p16Adam Baggs goes to the pub.

From the Chair p17Consolidation or threat says Hamish Reid. BACD viewpoint.

Retro p18Major new venue concept from Shell.

Sustainabitity p19Sarah Evans meets Russell Downing.

Sporting venues p20Sports hospitality expert Nadeem Ansari investigates the stadium experience.

Academia p22We look at the special role played by academic venues.

Conference Centres & Hotels p26Michael Kennedy investigates the advantages of marketing consortia.

Destination Report p28Sarah Evans is in Yorkshire South.

Confex p34The Big Show!

Unusual venues p36Theme parks can offer an exciting alternative.

Events calendar p38What and where and when.

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4 Winter 2008 Corporate Venues & Entertainment

News

Latest research shows 63 percent increase in exhibitiongenerated revenue.Sales achieved through exhibitions and live eventshave leapt from 30 percent to 49 percent (a 63 per-cent increase) according to the latest research fromNexus Collections, the UK’s leading supplier of con-ference bags. For the second year running, Nexus haspublished its in-house research, which clearly detailsthe source of all their new business. The latest fig-ures show a dramatic rise for exhibitions, particularlyInternational Confex, which has knocked the internetoff the top spot. Nexus Collections’ managing direc-tor, Nick Jones: “The last year has been great forNexus, with the company seeing a substantialincrease in turnover. Knowing the source of our suc-cess is vital as it helps us plan for the future.Therefore, on the basis of our first year’s figures wedecided to invest more in Confex ’07, including anew stand, doubling our floor space and greater pro-motion… it has certainly paid off. Whilst it looks likethe internet and other shows have faired badly com-pared to International Confex in percentage terms,their actual revenues have remained the same;EIBTM and IMEX in particular remain importantshows for us to reach the European market.

Top Honours for Sheepdrove EcoSheepdrove Eco con-ference centre haswon Conde NastJohansens “MostExcellent DedicatedVenue” for 2008. Atthe recent awards din-ner hosted byJohansens at theJumeirah Carlton

Tower, London, Sheepdrove Eco Conference centrebeat of stiff competition to claim the award.

Russell Downing, Centre manager said “This is a fan-tastic achievement for a business still in its infancy,and demonstrates that you can still enjoy state of theart meeting facilities in an environment where sus-tainability and bio diversity are paramount. Thevenue is extremely flexible and can host anythingfrom product launches, AGM’s or meetings up to 200delegates to more relaxed “Blue sky” thinking roomon sheepskin beanbags. The venues is also licensedfor civil wedding ceremonies, and the more differentyour event or team building activity is the more youshould feel at home.”

www.sheepdrove.com

Discover stress-free conferencing...

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A Marriage made in HarrogateOcean Media Group,owners of the BritishBridal Exhibition, andHarrogate InternationalCentre, have agreed acontract confirmingthat this twice-yearlytrade show will return

to Harrogate in 2008. Stuart Quin, Director atHarrogate International Centre commented, “It willbe wonderful to welcome the Bridal Exhibition backonce again. It is a high profile and glamorous eventbringing back old acquaintances as well newcomersto Harrogate each year”. The British Bridal Exhibitionis Europe’s foremost bridal trade show and occupiessix exhibition halls, three hotels, a fashion theatreand the HIC’s Queens Suite. Ocean Media’s EventDirector, Wendy Adams, said, “Harrogate is loved byexhibitors and visitors for its intimacy and night timeparty atmosphere. Our visitors see coming toHarrogate as a real social treat, as well as a greatplace to do business”.

Photo shows the contract signing, from left -StuartQuin, Director Harrogate International Centre; DavidMoran and Wendy Adams of Ocean Media.



News - Movers

Nexus demonstrates personnelinvestments with boardappointment

Nexus Collections, the UK’sleading provider of confer-ence bags and folders, haspromoted Jacqui Sharpe to itsboard of directors. Sharpehas risen to this role from themost junior position in thecompany in just six years,demonstrating both her com-

mitment to the company and their investment instaff training. Sharpe’s board responsibilities willinclude operations and customer service, buildingon her most recent role, where she oversaw thesales and delivery of more than 250,000 bags to600 customers in the UK each year.

Nexus Collections, managing director, Nick Jones:“Our staff have always been fundamental to oursuccess and investing in their future is both reward-ing and exciting. Jacqui is not only a very capableperson but has given 110% since the day she start-ed .We look forward to her lively and creativeinput at board meetings.”

University of Leeds appointsnew refectory manager

The University of Leeds hasstrengthened its catering serv-ices team with the promotionof Fiona Rushworth, who hastaken up the new post ofretail services manager for theUniversity’s largest cateringvenue, the refectory.

Fiona said: “The new refectory is a flagship cateringvenue for the University. It has already attracted alot of interest from other universities and has gainedpositive feedback from customers who are enjoyingthe new cutting edge service we are now able tooffer. Our main objectives will be to carry on achiev-ing customer satisfaction and provide an enhanceddining experience for the refectory. We’ll be lookingto introduce new ideas all the time to keep our serv-ice fresh and exciting and will also be workingtowards a Nutritional Standards Award in the com-ing months.”

Harrogate International Centre appoints Jane Nichollsas new head of sales

Harrogate International Centre,(HIC) has appointed JaneNicholls as their new head ofsales. The move comes amidexciting times at HIC whichrecently announced plans for a£48m site redevelopmentscheme over a six-year period.

Alison Griffin, deputy director and head of marketingat HIC said, “With Harrogate’s Royal Hall reopening inApril next year, and also with the Sun Pavilion venuenow in our portfolio, the time is right for expansionin our sales team to cope with the many new eventsenquiries we are receiving. We value our existing listof clients too and we wish to ensure they continue toreceive the high level of service they have becomeaccustomed to at HIC. Jane brings an impressive trackrecord with her which perfectly suits the HIC brand.

Jane has previously worked for the Jorvik VikingCentre in York, and more recently for the YorkMuseums Trust. Whilst with the Trust, Jane increasedsales income by just under 300 percent during herfour years there. Jane comments, “My proudestachievement was to be awarded the 2006 TourismAward in Customer Care.”

Russell Downing appointednew Centre Manager atSheepdrove Eco Conference Centre.

Russell’s career in theHospitality Industry beganwith Trust House Forte in1989 and has seen him workin many areas of the UK,more latterly working inCentral London with IHG.Russell’s primary responsibilityat Sheepdrove will be over

seeing the day-to-day running of the EcoConference Centre with a strong emphasis on salesand marketing. The Centre is a model for sustain-ability and bio diversity whilst still offering state ofthe art conference facilities. The centre is situated atthe heart of an organic farm which provides freshfood for conference delegates!

www.sheepdrove.com



News - Awards

Hospitality in Partnership takes home the ISEMSCommercial and SponsorHospitality Award Hospitality in Partnership (HiP) has won theInternational Sports Event Management andSecurity (ISEMS) Award for Commercial and SponsorHospitality. The ceremony took place at WembleyStadium and was attended by the world leaders inmany of the Industry Sectors. HiP, the global wingof parent company Cavendish Consultancy Ltd., wasawarded for the implementation of a successfulhospitality programme at ICC Cricket World CupWest Indies 2007. The global event took place innine different countries in the Caribbean regionearlier this year.

With an experienced management team from theUK reinforced by local staff, Hospitality inPartnership's staff navigated the complexities of thetournament, providing hospitality at each of the 51matches and welcoming over 20,000 guests.

Dr Chris Bruton, CEO of Hospitality in Partnershipwho headed the team in the Caribbean stated“Everyone involved in every aspect of thisTournament agrees that it was the most complexand challenging international sporting event everstaged. Using the fundamental principles ofHospitality in Partnership - engaging with andworking with the local communities – CricketHospitality had its Head Office in Barbados and 70percent of the full time staff was Caribbean nation-als. Local suppliers were used wherever possibleand in the build up period alone over $1 millionwere spent in the local economies. Corporate hospi-tality was a completely new concept in the coun-tries that we were operating in. We know that wehave laid the foundations for a new market atsporting events in the Caribbean and we are allproud of this legacy.”

It’s different, it’sexclusive and it’sfull of possibilities.It’s an unforgettablevenue for a totallymemorable event.

Tel: 0151 522 2922Fax: 0151 522 2950Email: [email protected]

Top scores in mystery shoppersurvey for Warwick ConferencesWarwick Conferences, the umbrella organisation forthe three purpose built training and conference cen-tres and the conference park at The University ofWarwick, is one of the UK’s leading academic venuesaccording to a national mystery shopper survey.

The research, conducted by meetings industryresearch consultancy BDRC, placed Warwick �

Conferences second, in a three month mystery shop-per programme investigating 16 leading academicvenues across the UK.

The average service performance score in the sur-vey was 53.4 percent. Warwick Conferences scored74 percent, narrowly being beaten to the top spotby less than one percent. The different categoriesfor analysis were broken down into ‘manner andapproach of staff’, ‘service delivery’ and ‘postenquiry follow up’; the Warwick Conferences teambeing placed as leaders in the latter of these cate-gories, scoring 21.3 points out of a maximumallowable 25.

Comments Amanda Simpson, marketing and com-munications manager at Warwick Conferences:“These results represent a highly successful year forWarwick Conferences, and demonstrate just howmuch the teams’ training and dedication hasimpacted client services. With continued dedicationto customer service and to becoming the UK’s lead-ing academic venue, we look forward to a successful 2008.



News - Ideas & Products

At the British Museum Clore Education Centre you are assured ofoutstanding personal service, from site visit, administration andpre-planning, right through to the event itself.

The venue has two state-of-the-art theatre spaces for up to 323 and142 delegates, each with its own elegant foyer area and several breakoutseminar rooms. As such, it is perfect for presentations, screenings, AGMs,product launches and press conferences.

Come to the British Museum for real free-thinking and an unforgettable event.

Great Russell Street, LondonWC1B 3DGTottenham Court Road, Holborn, Russell SquareTelephone +44 (0)20 7323 [email protected]

space

Photographs:BenedictJohnson

Photograph:DudleyHubbard

londonlaunch.com creates Event Planner on Facebook®

londonlaunch.com has announced an Event Plannerapplication built on Facebook Platform, a platformthat enables companies and developers to build appli-cations for the Facebook website which allowsFacebook users worldwide to plan corporate or pri-vate events online. It provides access to the best ofLondon’s venues, restaurants, hotels, caterers andother event suppliers.

“Our application allows Facebook users to access toour directory of top London venues and event suppli-ers from directly within their profiles.”, said MarkWestguard, IT Director of londonlaunch.com, “Theevents industry is all about networking, makingFacebook a perfect platform for us. We will continueto develop our application on Facebook to ensure wemaintain our reputation as the premier event man-agement resource online.”

londonlaunch.com plan to expand their Facebookapplication to cover their other directories whichcover cities such as New York, Los Angeles andToronto. To install the Event Planner applicationsearch for ‘event planner’ on Facebook.

Barbican and TrinityConferences team upBarbican, Europe’s largest combined conference andarts venue has teamed up with Trinity Conferences toprovide a total event solution. Trinity Conferences, theLincolnshire-based venue-finding agency has beenselected by the venue to act as the preferred accommo-dation provider for all Barbican events. All futurebookings will benefit from the close working relation-ship between the two companies, allowing them tosource accommodation at the same time as placingtheir meeting space requirements with Barbican.

Barbican head of corporate sales, Anthony Hyde (pic-tured): “The team at Trinity Conferences are industryrenowned experts and their knowledge and skills willadd huge value to our service, whilst ensuring we con-tinue to provide a total event solution. The immediatecreation of their professional bespoke website hasdemonstrated their commitment to our agreement andwe look forward to a long and fruitful partnership.”

A bespoke website has been created by TrinityConferences as part of the partnership, allowing organ-isers and attendees a quick, easily accessible means tofind their accommodation requirements. See www.trini-tyconferences.co.uk/barbican/



News - Teambuilding

‘Orchestrate’ teaches the event industry to ‘play a different tune’The challenge ‘Orchestrate’, conceptualised by team-building pioneers Catalyst, has been billed as a worldfirst in corporate training. It’s a unique exercise thatuses the symphony orchestra as a metaphor for theworkplace, allowing non musicians access to real instru-ments, a conductor and an especially composed piece ofmusic. Orchestrate reflects the idea of going beyondperceived limitations and has seen 130 novices taking tothe stage at the barbican to play a symphony in thespace of 90 minutes! Both Eventia members andCatalyst clients immersed themselves in a challenge thatseemed unrealistic at the outset but resulted in a fullperformance on the world famous stage of the BarbicanHall, home to the London Symphony Orchestra. Afterthe initial briefing by the conductor, participants weresplit into instrument ‘sectionals’ and trained in a varietyof the breakout areas available. The finale performancewas electrifying with many people genuinely surprisingthemselves at finding hidden talents.

For more information see catalystglobal.com and barbican.org.uk.

Prepare for the future... by meeting in the past.

• Confidential meetings• Off-site training• Teambuilding events• Conferences up to 150 people• Videoconferencing and meetings• Exhibitions• Corporate events and dinners

Take a virtual tour at www.farnhamcastle.com

Contact Barbara Milam on 01252 720403 oremail [email protected]

Lifeguards Go Ape!Over 70 Royal NationalLifeboat Institution (RNLI)lifeguards have completedthe Go Ape high ropesadventure course in MoorsValley, Dorset, as part of anRNLI leadership develop-

ment programme for senior lifeguards and lifeguardsupervisors.

Go Ape is a multi-award winning provider of highropes adventure courses, now located in twelve UKforest locations. Taking a fresh look at customaryteam building exercises, Go Ape now offers bespokecorporate packages providing an opportunity forcamaraderie, challenge, team growth, and a deepsense of personal achievement for those who experi-ence it.

Brett Shepherd, RNLI Beach Lifeguard Manager(Training & Development) explains. “The courseimproves the ability of lifeguards to work in teamsand as leaders, and we have nothing but positivefeedback from our lifeguards about the ‘Go Ape’training.’

www.goape.co.uk and click on corporate packages.



News

Longleat’s website wonderLongleat’s new websitenow has a ‘new look’ hos-pitality section. The websitenow provides a comprehen-sive view of all thatLongleat has to offer to thecorporate market. Fromgala dinners in the 16thcentury Great Hall ofLongleat House to confer-

ences in Lord Bath’s private apartments – where a visitfrom his Lordship and Boudicca (his faithful Labrador)is never out of the question!

“Our aim is that the website provides a comprehensivebut easy to use guide to the many corporate opportu-nities available at Longleat” explained Roz Smith,Marketing and Events Coordinator. “You will be ableto browse through a variety of event concepts, such ascompany fun days and product promotions, or checkout conference ideas which offer that little bit extrawith the addition of VIP Safari Tours.”

“We want to provide our clients with something spe-cial that is able to capture the unique and very excit-ing experience that is Longleat. It is all about that‘wow factor’,” Roz added.

Longleat has been at the forefront of British tourismfor nearly 60 years. It was the first stately home toopen to the public as a commercial venture in 1949and also the location for the first drive-through SafariPark in 1966. Today the Park provides spacious, mixedspecies enclosures for a whole host of exotic animalsincluding giraffes, rhinos, lions, tigers and wolves.

Longleat has been offering corporate hospitality andconferencing venues for many years and has welcomeda range of clients including Peugeot, Virgin Mobile,IBM and Pfizer.

To check out the Longleat website, see www.longleat.co.ukAnd for more information on corporate hospitality atLongleat please contact Roz Smith on 01985 845435 /email: [email protected]

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Brighton Dome launches a newCorporate Brochure and Website

Brighton Dome is delighted to announce the launch ofa brand new conference and events websitewww.brightondomeevents.org which includes a link todownload a new corporate brochure.

With three historic spaces, Brighton Dome provides aunique and versatile venue for a variety of corporatefunctions. The Dome reopened in 2002 following a £22million refurbishment. Clients include Microsoft,American Express, Unilever, Bupa and Barclays to namebut a few.

Built for the Prince of Wales (later to become GeorgeIV) and steeped in Regency history, it is part of the glo-rious Royal Pavilion Estate located in the heart ofBritain’s cosmopolitan city-by-the-sea and within ashort walking distance from Brighton Train Stationwith direct links to London in only 45 minutes. FromConferences to Exhibitions, Gala Dinners to FashionShows, there is no limit to the events that can bestaged at Brighton Dome offering a truly memorableexperience for every event.

'An attractive and unusual venue with wonderfullyhelpful staff'. – Louise Trudgian ASB Law

For further information on Conferencing and Events atBrighton Dome please contact Donna Miller, Conference and Events Manager 01273 261524 / [email protected]



Corporate entertainment - Exclusive interview

‘The Stately Homes of England invalley, dale and glen,’ NoelCoward sang, ‘Produce a race ofcharming, innocuous young men’.He was right – up to a point. Inthe case, however, of the tall andbroad Sir Alexander GeorgeThynn, the 7th Marquess of Bath,a stately home of England hasproduced a man who is certainlyrather charming, and relativelyinnocuous, but is also a strikingly

distinctive, unpredictable, passion-ate and tirelessly enterprising indi-vidual.

He is a painter, a poet, a novelistand a songwriter (the bronzedcrooner Des O’Connor, of all peo-ple, once produced an album ofhim performing his own material).He is the most assiduous of auto-biographers (his on-going mem-oirs – entitled Strictly Private –

already stretch to over three mil-lion words spread across fourteenvolumes, and he has only recentlyreached the 1980s). He is a conser-vationist, an innovator, a spiritual-ist, a sensualist, a showman and awould-be semi-recluse. A contra-diction, an eccentric and anintriguing enigma, he is, in sum, abona fide one-off.

Born Alexander George Thynne(the ‘e’ was dropped legally at alater date) in London on 6 May1932, he spent most of his child-hood at Sturford Mead, near thefamily seat of Longleat inWiltshire, before embarking on aneducation that encompassed Etonand Oxford as well as a spell spentas an art student at the AcademieRanson on the Left Bank in Paris.As he advanced into adulthood, heacquired a broad but singularworldview that somehow came toaccommodate strong beliefs aboutpersonal liberty, regional diversity(with a special interest in therevival of a semi-autonomousWessex), European federalism,ecology, polygyny and pantheism.

His practical involvement in therunning of not only the Longleatestate itself but also LongleatEnterprises – the company set upto manage its various commercialconcerns - began in 1956, fromwhich point on responsibilitieswere divided between himself andhis father until the latter’s death in1992, when he inherited the titleof Marquessate of Bath andassumed sole control of what bythis stage was a very large andincreasingly complex organisation.Now part custodian of familial andlocal heritage and part catalyst ofcultural and commercial initiatives,the current Lord Bath has likenedhimself, in his inimitable style, toan ‘individual polyp dedicated tothe task of embellishing my partic-ular corner of this coral reef’. Themost evident and admirable exam-ple of this embellishment, as far asus outsiders are concerned, is hispromotion of the core Longleatexperience.

Painter, poet, novelist, songwriter, conservationist,innovator, showman… Graham McCann discoversthat Lord Bath is all those things and more. Indeed,corporate hospitality is an integral part of today’sburgeoning Longleat experience.

Lord Bath



The Longleat estate has long been amajor attraction for leisure and cor-porate visitors, boasting as it does arich and highly distinctive mixtureof tradition, modernity and intrigu-ing English idiosyncrasy. LongleatHouse – one of the finest examplesof Elizabethan architecture to befound today in Britain, as well asone of the most aesthetically capti-vating stately homes now open reg-ularly to the public – is well worththe trip on its own. Positioned inthe midst of 3,200 hectares of well-kept woodland, lakes and farmland,this elegant three-storey buildingcontains a vast array of pricelessheirlooms and striking features.Each room is a marvel of 16th to19th century furnishings and art:the 11m-high Great Hall, for exam-ple, is Elizabethan and decoratedwith wood panels, tapestries andpaintings; the Red Library is one ofseven reading rooms on the site,and contains 4,803 of the total40,000 books in the house, spanningover five centuries of history; theState Dining Room has receivedsuch distinguished guests as QueenElizabeth I (in 1574) and QueenElizabeth II (in 1980), was re-deco-rated by Crace in 1870 and isendowed with many great portraits;the 17th-century Saloon, alsoknown as the Long Gallery, is remi-niscent of an Renaissance Italianpalazzo, with supplemental Flemishtapestries; and the red-and-goldState Drawing Room houses the 4thMarquess of Bath’s collection ofItalian paintings. Other notablerooms on view include the GrandStaircase, which was remodelled inthe 19th century, and the DressCorridor, with its colourful collectionof 18th and 19th-century dresses.

There is even more to see and expe-rience outside. Among the manypurpose-built attractions which sur-round this remarkable house arethe world’s largest hedge maze(which covers an area of around1.48 acres with a total pathwaylength of 1.69 miles), a miniaturesteam railway, a petting zoo, a hi-tech motion simulator, a tropicalButterfly Garden, a Postman Pat

Village, King Arthur’s Mirror Maze,a bat cave called ‘Old Joe’s Mine’and an Adventure Castle. The placeof honour, however, goes to theenduringly popular Safari Park.Opened in 1966, it was the firstlocation outside of Africa to providepeople with a drive-through safariexperience, allowing close encoun-ters with the world’s most magnifi-cent animals, including lions, tigers,llamas, camels, rhino and giraffe.

The profile of the park has beengreatly heightened worldwide inrecent years by its being featured inseven series of the BBC’s Animal

Park programme, which has won alarge and loyal following not onlyin Britain but also in countless othercountries. ‘Over the past eightyears,’ Lord Bath remarks, ‘we havebuilt up a great working relation-ship [with the production team].Animal Park is always sympatheticto Longleat’s needs and has dealtwith a number of momentousevents, such as the foot and mouthoutbreak back in 2001 and thetransfer of our elephant herd toFrance, with great sensitivity andcompassion’. An eighth series, dueto be shown in the summer of 2008,is currently being filmed.

“Corporate hospitality is also an integral part of today’s burgeoning Longleat experience”




Corporate hospitality is also an inte-gral part of today’s burgeoningLongleat experience, with a range offacilities and functions that includegala dinners and conferences (held,depending on needs and numbers,in such places as the Great Hall, theGreen Library or the BanquetingSuite), company fun days (with nofewer than eleven attractions toexplore), ‘ride-‘n’-drives (through900 acres of ‘Capability’ Brown land-scaped parkland and beyond into afurther 8,000 acres of forests, farms

and lakes) and a variety of marquee-based events. Unforgettably roman-tic weddings are welcomed in theOrangery, set amidst the rose-filledgardens of the Love Labyrinth andSecret Garden, where guests can sipchampagne while drinking in thevintage views.

Lord Bath is particularly proud ofwhat corporate visitors will experi-ence in the sumptuous BanquetingSuite, which is situated within hisprivate apartments: ‘The rooms were

designed for me and very muchreflect my personality respecting theheritage of Longleat whilst main-taining a modern outlook. The wallsare blue, the doors silver and you sitat a Makepeace table surrounded bymy artwork, the “Ancestral Heads”portraits’. Outside events areregarded by him as another finesource of excitement and satisfac-tion: ‘I am very keen to promote ourCompany Fun Day packages, with alimitless capacity and scope atLongleat from VIP Safari Tours tobespoke major open air events’.Such varied elements add up to anadmirably impressive leisure pack-age, but, as Lord Bath himself iskeen to stress, there is much morestill to come: ‘We are very fortunatethat we have some extremely goodvisitor satisfaction ratings atLongleat. However, we cannot reston our laurels and are always look-ing for new projects to improve thevisitor experience. Introductionssuch as the Safari Guide CD, and,most recently, the Kid’s Activity Bookoffer fantastic added value to ourvisitors and hopefully make a greatday out just that little bit more spe-cial. We currently have a planningapplication in place for a new ani-mal attraction with an investment of£2 million - so watch this space!’ One further tourist attractionalready overseen by LongleatEnterprises are the very popularCheddar Caves & Gorge in Somerset,which not only attract more thanhalf a million visitors to the areaeach year, but also serve as one of itsmajor employers. Such an achieve-ment underlines the commitmentadumbrated by Lord Bath in his

‘ I am very keen to promote our Company Fun Day packages, with a limitless capacity and scope at Longleat from VIP Safari Tours to bespoke major open air events’.





1999 speech to the House of Lords tourge the leisure industry to promoteand enhance the special culture andindustry of each tourist region with-in Europe. Returning to the themeeight years on, he says: ‘My concernsremain the same and I adhere to thecontent of my speech. I would liketo see the tourist enterprises ofWessex at large put forward a jointimage of their hopes and aspirationsso that this is seen as distinct fromthe rest of the country’.

As for the Longleat estate in particu-lar, Lord Bath looks forward to usingits history, diversity and beauty tocharm and inspire countless moregenerations of guests, not just for aday but also, he hopes, for a lifetime:‘I believe that Longleat has a duty toinform and educate our visitors espe-cially with regard to environmentalconcerns. We have a fantastic his-toric house and a Safari Park withover 75 species of animals, many ofwhich are threatened within theirnatural habitats. It is up to us to getour visitors to “think” about whatthey want from the world and howthey as individuals can play a part inits future’. That, for any statelyhome of England, seems a genuinelynoble goal.

Fact Panel

Contact:

The Estate Office, Longleat, WarminsterWiltshire BA12 7NW

Email : [email protected] or

Telephone : 01985 845400

Web: www.longleat.co.uk

‘I believe that Longleat has a duty to inform andeducate our visitors especially with regard to environmental concerns.’



News

Eventia and BACD in discussionabout a possible mergerThe Boards of Eventia and BACD - the British Associationof Conference Destinations - are discussing the possibilityof a merger which has the potential to create a powerfulorganisation that would benefit the entire industry.

Each Board is working on a proposition which will be putforward to members for voting shortly.

Combining the resources of these two major industrybodies would mean greater benefits for both sets ofmembers. Eventia and BACD already offer a range oftraining and support options through a variety of educa-tional and networking events – benefits that would begreatly enhanced if offered through a single majorindustry group. Each association also has strong ties toGovernment. Speaking with a united voice would onlystrengthen the impact of messages put forward, raisingthe profile and the voice of the industry as a whole.

Eventia grew from the merger of the ITMA and the CEAin January 2006 and its creation reflected the broadeningof industry activities and responsibilities which nowinclude multi-faceted meetings and conferences, liveevents, production and reward programmes as well asthe more traditional corporate hospitality events, con-sumer events and B2B activities. Eventia supports itswide membership and offers a variety of networkingopportunities, education options, social events, goodpractice guidance and benchmarks.

Comments Nigel Cooper, Eventia Board member andDivisional Managing Director for the Travel & EventsDivision within Motivcom plc:

“This is a great opportunity for the industry. I’m lookingforward to finalising our discussions and to creating anew and powerful group that will really raise our voiceand profile not only to our community of events, meet-ings and travel professionals but also to businesses in theUK and the rest of the world.”

Currently BACD exists to help British destinations gener-ate conference business through a range of marketingactivities, information sharing, collaboration and educa-tion. With a higher proportion of UK-managed eventsremaining in the UK, a joining of the two groups wouldmean that British destinations in particular can be pro-moted even more positively to the wider business com-munity.

Comments BACD Chairman HamishReid (pictured):

“One of BACD’s major roles is to buildbusiness for Britain, increasing the vol-ume and value of business being wonby members. Another important aim is

to act as a cohesive force and clear voice within businesstourism, forging strategic alliances with like-mindedorganisations nationally and internationally and playing

a leading role in the future development of the confer-ence industry.

“The possibility of a merger between Eventia and BACDis a natural progression for us and offers enormouspotential.”

Izania Downie, Executive Director of Eventia, adds:

“There is a real synergy in terms of what our two organi-sations do. Both Eventia and BACD have dedicatedmemberships and committed Boards which are both for-ward-looking and flexible, and our individual skills alsocomplement each other well. I am looking forward toworking with BACD to create a united, trusted and influ-ential industry association. Joining these two uniquegroups together presents amazing possibilities.”

Combining the talents of these two organisations wouldoffer the highest level of support to a growing industrynow encompassing an ever–widening sphere of activities,clients, agencies and technologies. The Eventia and BACDDirectors and Boards are committed to continuing thedialogue and to maximising the potential of workingtogether.

UPPER AYNHO GROUNDS AYNHO BANBURY OXON OX17 3AYTELEPHONE: 01869 810823 OR EMAIL [email protected]

www.adayinthecountry.co.ukFOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT

ACTIVITY DAYS | MEETINGS & CONFERENCES | TEAM BUILDINGTRAINING & DEVELOPMENT | PRODUCT LAUNCHES | PRIVATE PARTIES

VENUES 01/08

Everythingyou’dexpect,butalittle different.



Many ‘Venues’ readers will befamiliar with the famous

Berkeley Hotel in Wilton PlaceKnightsbridge. But you may nothave seen the completely refur-bished ‘Blue Bar’ yet.

Designed by David Collins to cre-ate a strikingly different 50-seatbar, its most outstanding feature

is the striking colour of the room,which he has termed 'LutyensBlue'. The white onyx bar and ablack crocodile print leather flooradd to the sumptuous, individualfeel.

Madonna has already been spot-ted here, presumably browsingthe list of more than 50 different

whiskies, a wide range of cham-pagnes and the original and clas-sic cocktails.

The Blue Bar is open throughoutthe evening and guests can ordersavoury and sweet tapas-style dishes.

Fact panel:The Berkeley

Wilton Place

Knightsbridge

London SW1X 7RL

Tel: 020 7235 6000

Web: www.berkeleyhotellondon.com

Events and Groups Manager

Mr Mark Tucker

Telephone: +44 (0)20 7201 1634

Fax: +44 (0)20 7201 1660

Email: [email protected]

A Dream in Lutyens Blue says Ella Salt

Venues - Conference Centres and Hotels



Purpose-built venues

My local pub is really rather pleas-ant: good service, good beer

and excellent food. But more recentlythey have started to offer conferenceand meeting rooms. The cash flowreasons are fairly obvious and theyare ploughing the extra revenue backinto the building and services, bene-fiting all visitors. However, I findmyself sitting there wondering if Iwould ever recommend it as a venue.For a meal or party absolutely, for aconference – I am not so sure. And Icertainly wouldn’t start recommend-ing the Judo club down the road oranother local pub, neither of whichoffer food but are somehow advertis-ing “conference rooms”.

Lane End Conference Centre’sKathryn Mais: “There is a uniqueatmosphere in a purpose-built centre.Rather like a library there is an auraof calm, free from noisy children andloud bars. The facilities, staff and lay-out are all dedicated to a business-focused environment, which leads tomore successful events as the dele-gates are able to concentrate better,free from interruptions. We are alsomore often available for an exclusivebooking, with absolutely no oneother than the event’s attendeesallowed on site.”

The purpose-built conference centreis a slightly odd experience for theuninitiated, but the experienced con-ference attendee knows and feels thebenefits from the moment they walkin the doors. It is ultimately thatsense that you are in a space dedicat-ed to, and created for conferencing,

free from distraction. This caninclude, conference centres, trainingvenues and more. As long as theMICE market is a primary source ofincome you can consider it a dedicat-ed, and often purpose built centre.

Mais continues: “Whilst some arguethat hotels are dedicated conferencevenues I believe it a matter of bal-ance, if they have the facilities, afocus on the MICE market and littlereliance on leisure there is an argu-ment to say they are more confer-ence venue than hotel but they stilllack dedication to the market. Everypart of our property has beendesigned with the delegate in mind –there is no compromise, even ourbedrooms are a little different, offer-ing a good nights rest, with modernhotel like conveniences but addinglarger workspaces and free broad-band – usually extra in hotels.”

But remember to think differently,purpose built venues come in allshapes and sizes. The Barbican’sAnthony Hyde: “Few people remem-ber that we were opened as a com-bined arts and conference centre,not just another theatre, and forthose that don’t believe me - it saysso on the plaque unveiled by theQueen 25 years ago! Venues such asours are able to take the skills andtechnology used in our arts produc-tions and extend them into our con-ferencing business, we cannot denythe fact that our business comesfrom two revenue streams but thecentre can be taken over exclusivelyfor corporate business and we are

dedicated to the production of worldclass live events.”

One of London’s other landmarkbuildings and dedicated conferencecentre’s is the QEII ConferenceCentre, complete with high-techsecurity and space for thousands it isa venue that re-invests its income toensure it continues to provide the citywith a world class venue, perfect forevents, away from the prying eyes ofthe public. Their focus on confer-ences means they can dedicate theirinvestment to the facilities requestedby their clients. This includes therecent 30 percent expansion in capac-ity on the third floor. QEIICC’s,Stephen Norcliffe: “This additionalmeeting space will allow us to offeran increased scope for future meet-ings and events, improving flexibilityfor whole centre bookings andenabling us to help those clients thatare looking to grow their events.”

Dedicated and purpose built venuesclearly have an appeal all of theirown, their facilities are designed tomake a conference efficient, busi-nesslike and successful. The library-like atmospheres are certainly con-ducive to study, learning and busi-ness. Would I recommend the localpub over such a venue – certainly notfor larger events where the logisticalchallenges are unassailable. Norwould I for the smaller events, theyjust lack the experience – but on theoff-chance I have missed something Ithink I should head down the roadand consider the idea over a pint.

The right tool for the jobAdam Baggs sups a pint and considers his “local” conference centre.



Working for an offshore desti-nation (the island of Jersey)

helps to give me a different per-spective on the UK’s conferenceand business events industry. I canstand back a little, literally andmetaphorically, and survey the UKscene and it’s very apparent to methat one of the trends having amajor impact in many sectors ofour industry is consolidation.

For example, we read regularreports of mergers and acquisi-tions among the leading eventmanagement agencies, creatingfewer but better resourced enti-ties. In September 2007, GrassRoots Group announced its pur-chase of communications andevents company MMM, whileNovember saw the £15 millionpurchase of Zibrant by Motivcom,described by Motivcom’s executivedirector, Nigel Cooper, as “themost significant deal in the indus-try’s history”. One of the benefitsfor clients from such deals is thegreater purchasing power accru-ing to agencies, enabling them, inturn, to negotiate better deals fortheir clients.

Among corporations the trend forprocurement departments to playa much greater role in the book-ing of event venues and relatedservices represents another formof consolidation: concentratingpurchasing in the hands of profes-

sional buyers and thus away fromthose with direct responsibility fordelivering successful events. Manyin the industry have expressedconcerns that the constraintsimposed by procurement depart-ments limit the scope for creativi-ty and impact adversely on thedelivery of successful events. ButMike Ford, managing director ofevent management companyUniversal CIT, argues that:

The process of procurement hasmoved the more traditional ‘rela-tionship’ driven way of doingbusiness, one that frankly had lit-tle strategy or transparency inbudget or cost management, intosomething more solid: a far morelevel and honest playing fieldwhich guarantees business andcuts down on the practice of buy-ing events in on an ad hoc basis.

At a destination level we’ve beenwitnessing, over several years, are-structuring of tourism market-ing organisations at national,regional, and sometimes locallevel across the UK. In many casesthis has meant the consolidationof destination marketing or man-agement organisations (DMOs), asexemplified by the recent launchof ‘Conference Leeds’, represent-ing no fewer than five discretedestinations (Bradford, Halifax,Huddersfield, Leeds, andWakefield) which were previously

promoted separately. Destinationconsolidation is being driven bydevolution and regionalisation,with de-centralised political andeconomic decision-making. Neworganisations based on public andprivate sector partnerships arebeing created to weld the strate-gic planning and longer term per-spectives of the public sector withthe entrepreneurial and commer-cial flair of the private sector, forthe benefit of both local andregional economies.

Whether you view consolidationas a threat or an opportunity will,of course, depend on your ownperspective and your individualsituation. But, as an industry, wemust seek to ensure that weretain a client-driven, market-cen-tred focus as we build our newcommercial entities and market-ing structures.

From the ChairConsolidation: A Threat or An Opportunity?Hamish Reid, chair of BACD

Opinion



Shell’s motoring archive representsa century of art, film, automobil-

ia and motorsport heritage. Shell –through its international brandguardians ‘MagicofMotoring.com’(heritage retailing) and‘WoadCorner.com’ (retro venues) -created an art-deco Shell station atlast year’s Goodwood Revival’ andthe concept created an internation-al sensation, being visited by125,000 people and televisedaround the world.

As a direct result of the Goodwoodtrial, Mick Pacey - who heads up theretro concept team for Shell - hasidentified Japan, Italy, France,Germany and the USA as initialcountries for the roll-out as soon asUK is underway. In total, 25 similar

venues are planned to open in the16 countries where Shell is a majorretailer, typically in locations ofmajor historic motoring significance.

Mick Pacey says: “Thevenue will comprise a14,000 sq.ft. art-decocomplex with classiccar showroom, offices,retail space, bar,restaurant and a fill-

ing station complete with 1950’s-style Shell pumps. We shall retainsome retail space for ourMagicofMotoring.com collection andwhile we could easily pre-let the bal-ance of the retail immediately Iwould rather give preferentialoptions to retailers who fit our pro-file for international luxury brands

wishing to be part of the roll-out asmore venues are opened.”

Construction of the first venue –close to Aston Martin in NewportPagnell Milton Keynes and to beknown as Shell Woad Corner – isalready underway and is due toopen later this year.

See www.MagicofMotoring.com and www.WoadCorner.com

Shell launches exciting global ‘retro venues’ conceptRetailing giant Shell has chosen the UK to pilot a planned global roll out of its retro venues concept.

Venues - Retro



Green is the new black of the 21stcentury with battery powered cars,organic produce and recycled goodsmaking their way firmly into thecommercial market. As reported byAdam Baggs in our last issue, venuesare no exception to the rule witheveryone pulling together in anattempt to reduce their carbon foot-print. Avid soap viewers mayremember the amusing Corrieepisode with Roy Cropper attempt-ing to do as much with ‘Roy’s Rolls’,causing much distress to his staff.

Any issue that is deemed to meritinclusion within the script of aprime-time TV soap is indication ofjust how important the issue of sus-tainability has become to us all.

To discover how venues are tacklingthe issue I contacted RussellDowning, the new centre managerof Sheepdrove Eco ConferenceCentre, surely a man who knowsmore than most about how the con-cept of sustainability is translated toa commercial venues environment.

What exactly merits a venue beingworthy of the description ‘Eco’,Russell?: ‘At Sheepdrove, carbonemissions have been reducedthrough energy efficiency andresponsible use of materials. Theimpact of the building’s structure onthe environment has been min-imised by using recycled, renewableand local materials -as well as mini-mum water consumption.’

I am already impressed, and this isjust the beginning! Russell goes onto explain that the building hasbeen designed to make the most ofnatural ventilation, light and passivesolar heating, and is partly cut intothe ground to increase its thermalmass and reduce heat loss. The cen-tre only needs two small gas-firedboilers to heat the whole of thebuilding due to its high levels ofinsulation. All waste water is treatedecologically on site and they evenhave the technology to be able toshut down any areas of the buildingwhich aren’t in use.

Nothing is thrown away; everythingis recycled. Even the materials fromthe demolition of the redundantbuildings on the centre site were re-used in the new build. They haven’teven used a scrap of PVC in the cen-tre’s construction, and I think it’s fabthat the toilet cubicle partitions aremade from recycled toothpastetubes, with the washbasins madefrom recycled CDs!

OK, so there are a few organic cen-tres throughout the UK; so whatjustifies Sheepdrove’s claim to be sodifferent from the rest? ‘Well, weare not just a series of beautifulrooms with state-of-the-art technol-ogy’, Russell comments, ‘We are setat the heart of a working organicfarm along a rich belt of outstand-ing natural beauty, and we offer ahaven for healthy thinking and cre-ativity in a relaxed environment.’ Just to cap it all off the menus are

all based on what is in season inboth the garden and on the farm,and all the meat is used -for exam-ple you will quite often find muttonon the menu. Bread is freshly madefrom wheat grown on the farm -milled daily! If delegates can get upon time they are even welcomed towatch the process!

With a field dedicated to outdoorteam building activities as well asreed-bed rambles and the famousfarm tours, there is certainly plentygoing on here to keep your dele-gates occupied in an environmental-ly friendly manor.

But despite all this impressive cata-logue of achievements, Russell andhis team still have more ambitions:‘We are now well underway withour next phase which includes ourplans to install a ground source heatpump’ Russell tells me with pride.Between the team of Russell, AllisonCook the front of house managerand Melissa Eggleton the centrecook, they run a splendid forward-looking eco centre which cleverlycombines education, farm, and asound business model for sustain-ability.

To experience sustainable conferencingfor yourself contact Russell Downing,Centre ManagerSheepdrove Eco Conference Centre,Lambourn, Berkshire RG17 7UUT: 01488 674 748www.sheepdrove.com

Sustainability

A fully eco friendlyconference venue?Sarah Evans speaks to Russell Downing to find out how....



Venues - Sporting

From the earliest football inter-national in 1872 between

Scotland and England to the 2006FIFA World Cup, football and hos-pitality have always had a closerelationship. And today, morethan ever, hospitality continues togain importance as a central mar-keting avenue at sporting events.

Official hospitality programs arecurrently available for every majordomestic and international event,from the Heineken Cup to theWimbledon Championships, a PGATour event or the UEFA ChampionsLeague. Many of today’s corporateguests have a “been there, donethat” outlook as far as stadiumhospitality is concerned. And asthe popularity of corporate hospi-tality increases and it secures astronger position within the mar-keting and PR budget, it hasbecome more apparent to thevenues that there is an ever grow-ing demand to give corporationsand their guests a value for moneyexperience.

The boom in new stadiums andcutting-edge sports facilities is agreat indication of how rightsholders are providing better toolsin order to create a better fanexperience.

A recent visit to newly launchedWembley Stadium in Londonshowed that the stadiums of thefuture will incorporate larger hos-pitality facilities for corporateentertaining. Wembley Stadium is

one of the biggest catering sites inEurope and includes the 950-coverAtrium restaurant, the great halland banquet space for up to 1,500people, and four signature restau-rants of 650 covers each. It alsofeatures two Champagne andseafood bars and two large, free-flow public catering areas, 162 pri-vate boxes, two super boxes and aroyal suite for up to 400 people.

After a hunt lasting more than sixmonths, the catering company -which has a 25-year contract withWembley - appointed FrankCoughlan to oversee the foodoffering at the stadium. Havingbeen responsible for tennis cham-pionships at Wimbledon and RyderCup at the K Club in Ireland, theIrish-born chef oversees a team of39 full-time staff, boosted by upto 3,000 casual workers duringmajor events.

Another recent example of thequality of stadium hospitality isArsenal’s Emirates Stadium inacquiring one of the hottest tal-ents in the gastronomical game,Raymond Blanc. Two Michelinstarred Blanc - who is a keenGunners fan - became ChefDirector for the restaurant atDiamond Club - the most luxuriousoffering in football.

The ever growing race amongstthe football stadia has lead to‘The Stadium Experience’ OfficialFootball Hospitality Awards whereprofessional chef judges experi-

ence hospitality at 21 UK clubsover a period of six months andapply a strict point scoring criteriafrom parking access, signage andwelcome to the food quality andstandards of service in nominatinga range of awards.

With the increasing sophisticationof fans, events and stadiums, it’sclear the face of corporate enter-tainment at major sports events ischanging and will continue tochange. We all know that a happyclient is a client who will keepcoming back for more. And aclient who keeps coming back formore is a client willing pay theprice of admission.

However, regardless of the level ofservice, the culinary experiences,the state of the art, décor and soon, the ultimate client satisfactioncan only be achieved with a goodand ideally winning game of foot-ball - especially if your clients feelthe same way towards the teamsinvolved in the game as you do!

Nadeem Ansari is a Chartered Marketerand Chief Executive Officer ofSportsHospitality.com

Nadeem is also one of the visionariesbehind DubaiCorporateHospitality.com,the first corporate hospitality agency in UAE.

The Stadium ExperienceSports hospitality expert Nadeem Ansari investigates



Venues - Sporting

The Winning Place to do BusinessThe thrill of a live football game is simply an unbeatable experience. Here at Aston Villa we prideourselves on delivering outstanding match-day hospitality with exceptional service, whether it bein one of our 105 executive boxes or one of our stylish restaurants. We also have a wealth ofsponsorship opportunities available for businesses to showcase their brand.

Executive Boxes

Restaurant Hospitality

Corporate Entertainment

Sponsorship Opportunities

Supporter Packages

We can assist you with:

Find out what we can do for your businessT: 0800 612 0960 F: 0800 612 0966 E: [email protected] W: www.businessvilla.co.uk

Sellers Hospitality releases2008 events datesCheltenham National Hunt Festival 11 – 14 March 2008:Luxury triple-decker marquee with balconies offeringpanoramic views of the whole course and excellent din-ing facilities. Prices start at £359.00 per person plus vat.

Grand National Meeting 3-5 April 2008: Private suites areavailable for numbers exceeding 24 and reservedtables for smaller numbers in an atmospheric facilityin the heart of the action. Prices start at £229.00 perperson plus vat.

Santander British Grand Prix 4-6 July 2008: With LewisHamilton riding high in the Drivers Championshipdemand is sure to be high. Trackside facilities willinclude Vale Terrace Restaurant, Vale Restaurant,Copse and Brooklands Prices start at £149.00 per person plus vat.

The Open Golf Championship, Royal Birkdale 17-20 July2008: The 2008 Open returns to Royal Birkdalethought by many to be the best English venue to hostthe Championship. Sellers hospitality offers theExecutive Restaurant and Private Chalets situatedwithin the tented village with exclusive Sky Boxes andChampionship Club viewing at the 1st Hole. Pricesstart at £295.00 per person plus vat

David Mackinnon brings anevents focus to Sandown Park

Sandown Park has appointedDavid Mackinnon, formerly ofthe Royal Windsor racecourse,as the venue’s new ManagingDirector. David has already metsome famous faces at SandownPark, including George Bush,

although Mr Bush was in the shape of impersonatorRory Bremner. An avid fan of racing, funnyman RoryBremner was filming a sketch for his series Bremner,Bird and Fortune in the Esher Hall.

Sandown Park has immense indoor and outdoor spaceavailable for events of all kinds. David said “The scopeof our business with only 30 racedays a year leaves sig-nificant days for the Events business. Currently Eventscontribute over 40 percent of Sandown’s business and Iam looking forward to increasing occupancy and usageof our facilities”.

David was impressed by the amount of on-site facilitiesavailable at Sandown Park which include golf, kartingand dry-skiing which are a distinct advantage in today’sbusiness climate. These facilities are also widely utilisedfor training and team building activities.www.sandown.co.uk/events



Venues - Academia

Reading Room of the British Library(now the British Museum). TheOctagon, with its high domed ceilingand famous literati busts, has beenmagnificently restored and is suitablefor a range of different functionsincluding meetings, conferences, for-mal dinners and receptions.

In addition to buildings with historyand character, academic venues canalso offer new award winningdevelopments. The Windsor Buildingat Royal Holloway, University ofLondon won an award for its designat the 2006 Runnymede DesignAwards. The £8 million building fea-tures state-of-the-art technical fea-tures and has received an excellentwelcome from commercial clients.

VENUEMASTERS MarketingExecutive, Julie Wright says;“Academic venues can offer anexcellent range of facilities for avariety of events. Buildings with his-tory and character are provingextremely popular for organiserslooking for unique venues, especial-ly with their complement of modernamenities.”

VENUEMASTERS represent over 80academic venues, promoting theirfacilities for a wide range of events.

For more details about the consor-tium and the venues mentionedabove, please use one of the contactmethods below. You can also carryout a quick and easy venue searchonline.

Web: www.venuemasters.co.uk E-mail: [email protected] Tel: 0114 249 3090

Along with competitive ratesand a choice of more than 50

UK locations, academic venueshave the benefit of being able tooffer an increasing amount of facil-ities at any time of the year, andmore than 50 percent of venuesnow have dedicated year roundcentres for use by event organisers.

The venues can offer a range offacilities from traditional buildingswith history and character, to state-of-the-art developments, and manycan offer a combination of facilitieson campus.

One example is Edinburgh First atthe University of Edinburgh, whichwas established over 400 years ago.The University includes some of the

city’s most historic buildings such asMcEwan Hall, Talbot Rice Gallery,St Cecelia’s Hall and the PlayfairLibrary Hall. In contrast, AppletonTower has had extensive refurbish-ments and now boasts two 300seat lecture theatres and three 200seat theatres, containing advancedAV systems.

Programmes of refurbishments anddevelopments are regularly takingplace at academic venues, and thishelps to ensure that they can offermodern facilities, whilst also carry-ing out work to maintain listedbuildings and traditional facilities.

The Octagon at Queen Mary,University of London was built in1888, and was modelled on the

Academic venues can range from traditional buildings with history and character to state-of-the-art developments. We look at the special role they play in the corporate world.

Masters of venue-finding



Venues - Academia

University of ManchesterConference Centre’s KarlBuxton achieves lifetime ambition

Karl Buxton, ConferenceCoordinator atManchester ConferenceCentre, has taken part inyet another internationalmarathon! His passion formarathon running hassent Karl globetrotting toParis, Chicago, Rio, andhis latest marathon hasseen him travel toGermany to take part inthe annual BerlinMarathon, which he suc-cessfully completed in 4

hours 27 minutes. Karl’s first run was the Manchester10k, and the exhilarating experience left him hungryfor more. Since, he has been taking part inmarathons across the world.

Twenty nine year old Karl, from Great Moor,Stockport, commented;“ I get so much fulfillmentout of running marathons. Not only have I been for-tunate enough to see some fascinating countries,but more importantly, I have raised hundreds ofpounds for a number of charities.”

Richard Handscombe, Sales & Marketing Managerfor conference venues at The University ofManchester added; “We are all constantly amazedby Karl’s energy and enthusiasm. Speaking on behalfof all his colleagues, we wish him all the best in hisnext gruelling challenge.”

His time in Berlin meant that Karl has successfullyqualified to fulfil one of his lifetime ambitions, torun the Two Oceans Ultra Marathon in South Africa;one of the most beautiful marathons held annuallyin the coastal city of Cape Town.

Conferences at Reading

Food forthoughtGreat conference and catering facilitiesset in 320 acres of parkland

Our facilities include

• A range of over 200meeting rooms• Over 2500 ensuite and standard bedrooms• Great transport links by road, rail and air• Catering to suit all occasions• Excellent value for money• Conference team dedicated to

your event

Tel (0118) 378 8427

www.reading.ac.uk/conference

Whether you want to meet in comfort and style in theelegant surrounding of a country house, or in one of themost exciting and versatile conference venues in the UK,we can promise you a venue to meet your needs.

Where theBest ofBothWorldsMeet

www.meeting.co.ukemail:[email protected]

Chancellors Hotel and ConferenceCentre, set in five stunning acresof landscaped grounds:� A relaxing and rural setting justthree miles from the city centre.

� An opportunity to meet in peacefuland stress free surroundings.

� 75 hotel bedrooms, stylish meetingfacilities and free parking.

Manchester Conference Centreand Days Hotel, set in the heart ofthe city:� Close to Piccadilly station withample parking adjacent.

� Modern and professional facilities.� 117 hotel bedrooms,2 theatres and 18meeting rooms.



Venues - Academia

The University of Leeds opens £4.5 m Refectory

The newly refurbished state-of-the-art refectory hasofficially opened with a mouth watering new-lookand a wide variety of fine dining for up to 600 dele-gates at a time. The facilities have modern lifestylefood offers, including a newly developed Hot Wokand Noodle Bar concept serving international cui-sine. The refectory now includes a Grab and Go serv-ice where you can choose from fresh salads, soups,sandwiches, jacket potatoes and oriental style dishesincluding Sushi.

Catering Operations Manager at the University ofLeeds, Ian Addy said: “As well as offering a range ofmeals and snacks to suit all tastes, we will attemptto ‘touch a nerve’ with all visitors, taking into con-sideration health and wellbeing, current nutritionaltrends, environmental issues, sustainability and fairtrade.”

The stylish, refectory will open seven days a weekincluding Sundays where you can expect to find tra-ditional food choices such as the Full EnglishBreakfast or Roast Beef and Yorkshire Puddings. Inthe evenings the venue can be miraculously trans-formed to provide fine dining for large conferencedinners, awards ceremonies or themed events.Assistant Director, Beverley Kenny said “The refur-bished refectory will create a destination which willoffer an exceptional dining experience to all dele-gates, taking the catering at the University of Leedsto a whole new level.”

The University of Leeds conference & events teamoffers a wide range of services from day meetingrooms for groups as small as four to large confer-ences for up to 550 delegates. The team can alsooffer residential events, exhibition halls with over1800sqm of exhibition space, hospitality and finedining, as well as a comprehensive conference man-agement service.



Venues - Academia

CONFERENCESELECTIONDurham Universityoffers you a widechoice of venuesranging frommodernpurpose-builtconferencefacilities tothe HistoricDurham Castle.

To make a booking for a particulardate, arrange a visit or request furtherinformation on any of our conferencevenues, call the Sales Office on:0800 28 99 70 or e-mail:[email protected]/event.durham

Rohit TalwarTues 12th Feb, 13:00 - 14:00

What is the future of conferences,exhibitions and events? External fac-

tors and industry trends are forcing us to rethinkevery aspect of how we deliver live events.

In this thought provoking and practical session,events industry futurist and award winning speaker,Rohit Talwar will highlight the critical challenges andpresent practical ideas on how we can respond ininnovative ways.

Jean-Christophe NovelliWed 13th Feb, 13:00 - 14:00

Novelli is a Michelin and 5AA Rosetteaward winning chef, AA Chef’s Chef

of the Year, European Chef of the Year and severaltimes winner of restaurant of the year. The Hell'sKitchen star also appears regularly on catering pro-grammes and prime-time TV shows.

In an increasingly competitive environment, cateringcould give your event the edge you need. Hear aninspirational view on how food can deliver successfrom one of the world’s greatest chefs.

Sahar HashemiThurs 14th Feb, 13:00 - 14:00

Sahar Hashemi founded CoffeeRepublic and built it into one of our

most recognised high street brands This is a fascinat-ing tale of the ups and downs of following yourdream - demonstrating how every one of us canachieve our professional goals!

Sahar has been named one of the 100 MostInfluential Women in Britain 2003, has written abook called “Anyone can do it” and has nowlaunched “Skinny Candy” amongst many otherachievements.

Confex Keynote Speakers confirmed!

THE R.S. HISPANIOLAFunction RoomsStunning Views

Weddings Restaurant/Bar

FOR BOOKINGS02078393011 or

[email protected]



While there’s a significantamount of consolidation

going on within the venues sector,there are still many providers thatoperate in ‘splendid isolation’. Mostare medium-sized independent ven-ues, and it’s probable that the greatmajority of those would benefitfrom becoming part of a consor-tium.

A consortium is a like minded groupof organisations that see benefits inworking together. Within the venuesbusiness, there are several suchgroups, and one of the most pro-gressive is Conference Centres ofExcellence.

CCE currently has 35 membersspread from Sussex to Scotland. Theyare all independent venues, with thecommon factor of being dedicatedcentres for conferences and meet-ings. ‘Dedicated’ means that theirfacilities, services and staff have noother focus than the conferencebusiness. Though most are residen-tial, they aren’t hotels, and they

don’t handle transient tourist busi-ness. Their conference facilities areprecisely targeted -- furniture, pres-entation equipment, acoustics, andlighting have all been specificallycreated to optimise the environmentfor conferences. Staff support is simi-larly highly focused.

All CCE members are successful intheir own right – they must be,because otherwise they wouldn’t beaccepted into membership. But theyall see benefits in being part of amarketing consortium. Let’s look atthose benefits.

More businessNo venue wants to turn away aninquiry, but sometimes it’s inevitable.If a CCE member has to do so, it con-tacts the consortium, which thenrefers the business opportunity toother members. That way there’s anexpanded opportunity for all – and,equally important, the business isreferred on to providers who willmatch the same consistent standardsof facility and delivery.

All members also benefit from thefact that CCE offers free venue find-ing services to conference agentsand to conference organisers. It’s aone stop shop that is increasinglypopular with those audiences, andreinforces and extends the saleseffort of every individual member.

Wider awarenessCCE is highly active in terms of mar-keting. It communicates to the mar-ket the advantages of dedicatedmeetings facilities, doing so nation-ally across all relevant sectors. That’sanother benefit to every member,though it must be remembered thatit’s based on one vital message – sec-tor-leading standards.

CCE only accepts applications fromwould-be members if they meetstringent criteria for the quality offacilities, service and support, andevery applicant is vetted by a qualitycommittee drawn from currentmembers. There are also require-ments in terms of all-inclusive pric-ing. All members adhere to a policyof complete transparency, consciousthat many conference customers canbe alienated by the process ofunforeseen add-ons in the finalinvoice.

Common bondThese are concrete, tangible bene-fits. But there’s one more thingthat’s less tangible in terms of busi-ness, but which venues – or morespecifically the people who work inthem – value at least as much.

It’s the simple process of talkingtogether – exchanging experiences,learning from the example of oth-ers, understanding and sharingbest practice, providing mutualsupport and encouragement.Though in principle every memberis competing for business, in prac-tice there’s a great camaraderiebetween members, preciselybecause they share so much com-mon ground.

Michael Kennedy is a PR and marketingadviser in the conference sector.

Working together gives all-round benefits!Michael Kennedy investigates the advantages of marketing consortia





£3m Health club makes splashon opening in Southampton

The stunning new £3m health club at Chilworth Manorhas been opened by ex-Saints legend Francis Benali.Chilworth resident Francis, who held his wedding cere-mony at the hotel 16 years ago, was only too delightedto be asked to help out with the celebrations. He said:“It’s a fantastic club and just what the area needed. I’msure it will be a huge success. I can’t wait to use itmyself!” The eagerly awaited complex, calledtheclub@chilworth-manor, has taken just over sevenmonths to build and had already signed up over 300members before the doors officially opened.

“We’ve had an incredible response to the club fromlocal residents and businesses,” said Gavin Elliott, direc-tor and hotel manager at Chilworth Manor hotel. “Thisstunning new complex will offer the hotel a much need-ed leisure facility which will include the provision of thelatest state-of-the-art Nautilus Nitro Plus gym equip-ment. It’s very exciting to see it finally open!”

Gavin added: “theclub@chilworth-manor will make asignificant contribution to our hotel and is set to takeour leisure breaks and conference facilities to a newdimension. Having a quality leisure option will be atremendous boost to business.”

Members and guests can now enjoy a leisurely swim in aluxurious, heated swimming pool or relax in a spa bath,poolside sauna or steam room as well as use the high-tech gym or spinning studio. For those who wish toindulge in more relaxing pursuits, the hotel is offering avariety of holistic and beauty treatments and has select-ed Comfort Zone beauty products - which recently wonBest Spa Cosmetic Product at the 2006 European SpaExhibition - for its four fully equipped treatment rooms.Treatments will include Aromatherapy massages, HotStone treatments, manicures, pedicures and wraps.

Club manager Kris Hillary said: “We have a great teamand an offering second to none in the region. We arereceiving hundreds of enquiries every week and mem-bership has been set at a realistic level to appeal to awider range of health and fitness users.”

The club is run by a 15 strong dedicated team of healthand fitness experts. www.chilworth-manor.co.uk.

Photo shows Manager Kris Hillary making a splash onopening day ‘helped’ by hotel director Gavin Elliott andFrancis Benali.

Cherkley Court LaunchExclusive Rooms for Corporate Hire

Following a stunning refurbishment under the direc-tion of renowned designer David Mlinaric, responsiblefor projects including Asprey’s and the Royal OperaHouse, Cherkley Court & Gardens in Surrey haslaunched its exclusive rooms for private hire to thecorporate market.

Cherkley Court hosted among others, Rudyard Kipling,Harold Macmillan and Winston Churchill during in itsheyday as the former home of MP and newspaper pro-prietor, the 1st Lord Beaverbrook.

Anna Nelson, Cherkley Court’s House Manager, said:“Cherkley Court offers a spectacular and exclusive settingto host a corporate board meeting or small conference.Our position close to central London, the M25, Gatwickand Heathrow makes us an ideal place for those whowant an inspirational venue in an idyllic setting.”

The House has six individual rooms available for hireincluding the double aspect dining room which canseat 22; the Saloon, a long drawing room openingonto a terrace which can hold up to 70 theatre style;and The Orangery, positioned next to the main housewhich can host 110 cabaret and 86 theatre style.www.cherkleycourt.com

Shoot4goal launchesEntrance Arch

Here’s an interesting prod-uct that’s ideal for giving anevent a really professionalfocus. The ‘entrance arch’from Shoot4Goal SportsEntertainment is equallysuitable as a start/finish linemarker. The width can beadjusted from four to eight

metres and the height – five metres – is apparentlytall enough to drive a bus through should you needto! The arch can carry your own branding on bothsides, vertically and horizontally. More info fromwww.shoot4goal.com



Destination Report - Yorkshire South

‘An event organiser’s dreamwith something for everyone’says Sarah Evans

Fancy a quiz? Name an area whichcombines a multitude of confer-

ence and event venues along with allthe sporting and leisure facilities yourdelegates could possibly want. But tomake it harder, factor in a require-ment for ample accommodation, citycentre history, culture and amenitiesright on hand. Oh yes, you need easyaccess to the countryside for those allimportant team building activities.Ideally you’ll want excellent road, air,train and tram links too. ..

Well, this event organiser’s dreamdoes exist – it’s Yorkshire South!

Encompassing Doncaster, RotherhamBarnsley and Sheffield, this livelycounty is home to stainless steel, thecountry's oldest football club -Sheffield United - and the St. LegerFestival which had its triumphantreturn to its rightful place atDoncaster Racecourse in Septemberlast year. Steeped in industrial historyreflected in the magnificent rooms ofthe Cutlers Hall and the stainless steelwave which greets you stepping outof the railway station, converselySheffield is also the greenest city inthe country, nestling in the bordersof the Peak District, and it quicklybecomes apparent why as you makeyour way round this startlingly beau-tiful location.

Following 18 months and a £32 mil-lion pound investment, DoncasterRacecourse is re-born, and believe meit was worth the wait. Making ourway into the racecourse by road I amrendered speechless by the sheer sizeand scale of the venue. Pulling into


one of the 3,000 free car parkingspaces you can see the wholecourse clearly, including all threestands:- The Family Stand, the ren-ovated traditional Clock TowerStand and the brand new Urban-istand which towers over everythingelse at an impressive five story’shigh. This is one of the busiesttracks in the country, with hospital-ity facilities to match. With its

brand new purpose built exhibitionhall, extensive grounds with plentyof scope for team building activi-ties, broadband available throughmost floors, a networked pressroom available for training sessionsand a reception/drinks terraceoffering fabulous views of thecourse, there is something on offerfor everyone. With their uniquecomputerised turnstile system, you

can even find out lots of usefulinformation from your visitors asthey scan themselves in. CarlRamsden sales manager tells methere is nothing they can't do, andthey have the added bonus ofbeing able to hold multiple func-tions at once. Who uses the race-course? Everyone from Jaguar for aproduct launch to potentially anAccordion Conference next year!There is even a fabulous hotel con-veniently situated right oppositethe racecourse suitably named TheGrand St. Leger. Following itsrecent refurbishment this Grade IIlisted building is now one of themost desirable hotels in Doncaster.

Sport is certainly a theme at thevenues in Doncaster, with the NewKeep Moat Stadium another topdestination. Driving into the homeof Doncaster Rovers I am surround-ed by plenty of greenery and agorgeous lake. Added to this,Sarah Macalister tells me if you arehaving an evening event here, the



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AN EVENT AT MAGNA IS ONE NOBODY CAN EVER FORGET.OUR UNIQUE FACILITIES HAVE ALREADY MADE US OFFICIALLYTHE BEST EVENTS VENUE IN THE COUNTRY, AND OUR RECENT£2.7M INVESTMENT MEANS THAT THIS YEAR, WE'RE EVENBIGGER AND BETTER.

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SO, WHETHER IT’S A QUIET LUNCH FOR 2 OR A PARTY FOR 3000WITH FIREWORKS, LASERS AND TOWERING VIDEO SCREENS,ONLY MAGNA HAS THE SPACE, THE IMAGINATION AND THEFLEXIBILITY TO GIVE YOU WHAT YOU WANT.

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KEEPMOATSTADIUM

Contact the team on01302762590 for detailsEmail: [email protected]

CONFERENCES & EVENTS

TheKeepmoatStadiumhasexcellent facilitieswith ample freeparking for youand your guests.

RangeofBanquetingSuites for10 -400guestsDedicatedBanquetingEventCo-ordinator


floodlights can be put on as theguests arrive-what a magnificentway to start your event! All therooms here have natural light, andwith the main rooms and executiveboxes overlooking the pitch it’s avery relaxing and welcoming envi-ronment to be in. Heading to floorlevel, there is a huge concoursewhich can be used for exhibitions,and because of the nature of thebuilding-a football ground-they aremore than used to a bit of mess sothere are no real restrictions as tohow you choose to utilise this fan-tastic space. You will find a surprisehere with a very amenable chefwho is willing to try anythingregarding your catering require-ments, and is often found cookingup concoctions so the client canhave tasting sessions to make surethe food is just right-after all getthe food right and you are twothirds of the way there!

So what about all you energeticpeople who fancy a bit of a physi-

cal workout a well as a mentalone? Or even for all the mildlysadistic company directors who findit amusing to put your staffthrough their paces? Yes, we knowwho you are! The place for you isThe Dome in Doncaster, where ifyou are using their huge exhibitionspace, conference rooms or themagnificent Forum for a dinnertheir full range of facilities areavailable to you. How about someteam building on the ice rink, chal-lenges on the climbing wall, a workout in the gym or even just relax-ing in the pool? On my visit themain hall was in the process ofbeing set up for none other thanMr. Jim Davidson, but as AndyO’Grady tells me the hall is a blankcanvas and you can pretty well dowhat you like. In fact, he goes onto tell me The British JugglerAssociation are using the land atthe back for camping when theyhold their conference here laterthis year. It is however, the stun-ning Forum which demands your



This historic and elegant hotel is ideally located in the city centre ofSheffield. Just half a mile from Sheffield Railway Station, Bus Station andthe Sheffield Supertram network. For those guests travelling to the hotelby car, the hotel is easy accessible from junction 33 of the M1 Motorwayand is situated at the end of its’ own private drive. The hotel has over200 car parking spaces.

One of the most striking features of this Grade 2 listed building is theelegant Ballroom which can accommodate up to 300 people for abanquet / dinner and also boasts a further 15 meeting rooms. Ourmaximum capacity for conferencing is 400 Theatre Style or 220 CabaretStyle. The Esperanto Health Suite is open 24 hours and features afully equipped multi gym, dance studio and saunas.

To place a booking or to make an enquiry pleasecontact the Conference Sales Team on 0114 252 6510

The Holiday Inn Royal VictoriaSheffieldVictoria Station Road, Sheffield, S4 7YEt: 0114 252 6510 f: 0114 252 6526e: [email protected]: www.holidayinnsheffield.co.uk

The Grand St. Leger HotelThe hotel has recently undergone an extensive refurbishment andgreat care has been taken to sympathetically upgrade the facilitieswithout overwhelming the traditional character of the building.

The result is a triumphant example of traditional and modern. Openfireplaces and crystal chandeliers sit comfortably alongside superiorconference facilities, luxurious en-suite accommodation andComplimentaryWIFI throughout the hotel.

Our Sellinger Suite is the ideal space to hold exclusive meetings andconferences for up to 65 delegates.With our onsite event managerson hand you can rest assured that you are in the best possible hands.

www.grandstleger.com


full attention with its high archedceilings, magnificent colonnadesand fabulous black and white che-quered floor.

For the traditionalists out there adinner set in the walls ofSheffield’s Cutlers Hall will certain-ly make a lasting impression. Theentrance to the home of theMaster Cutlers is easily over-looked, yet as you step onto thebeautiful mosaic floor surroundedby ornate carvings and beautifulexamples of the craft Sheffield iswell known for, you could be for-given for thinking you havestepped into a different era.Entrance to the banqueting halls isvia a grand staircase with plentyof room for a drinks receptionbefore heading in for the mainevent. There is a variety of roomswhich can be used for a multitudeof purposes, each one burstingwith sumptuous décor and oldfashioned elegance.

With so much to offer, the groupSheffield International Venues hasbeen formed, bringing togetherthe top venues in the regionincluding Ice Sheffield, SheffieldCity Hall, English Institute of SportSheffield and Ponds ForgeInternational Sports Centre amongothers. Each has its own distinctfeatures, but if you are looking fora banqueting venue with capacityof 1200, an indoor athletic arena,

twin Olympic size ice pads or evenan Olympic size swimming poolthis is the place to come. Rangingfrom the old school grandeur ofthe Town Hall to the modern andunusual EIS, there really is some-thing to suit all tastes.

All this is fantastic, but if you arecoming from out of town, you are

going to need somewhere foryour delegates to rest their wearyheads after all that exhaustingexercise and fabulous banquets!Once again Sheffield does not dis-appoint with a range of bespokehotels ready for your every need.Try out the Mecure St Paul’s for anideal city centre location, brandnew fabulous spa facilities androoms over looking the peace gar-dens. The food is exquisite, thesurroundings luxurious, the staffwarm and welcoming-you evenget a rather smart concierge, whata delightful way to make animpression on your guests.

If you fancy something with a bitof history, why not try Sheffield’sfirst boutique hotel, The Leopold.Part of the Prem Group, this oldBoy’s Grammar School is filled withremnants of the boys and teachersthemselves mixing the charm ofthe past with the clean and mod-ern twist of the present. You willfind quirky features throughoutthe hotel, including the old coat




hooks by reception, and all thesigns have been written as a copyof the old headmaster’s hand.Looking out on Leopold Squarefull of classy bars and restaurants,five minutes from Sheffield TownHall, this is a beautifully restoredbuilding, and I can personally rec-ommend the house champagne cocktail!

Both hotels have their own meet-ing rooms in keeping with thestyle of each, very comfortable andhave everything you need shouldyou choose to hold your meetingsthere. Out of town? The beautifulAston Hall has been restored to itsformer glory whilst retaining manyof its original features. Set in 55acres of woodland, and only min-utes from junction 31 of the M1, itreally is possible to escape to thecountry whilst on the doorstep ofthe city.

Now, finally, there is one morevenue which I think everyone mustvisit even if just for leisure, and

that is the ‘ore inspiring’ buildingthat is Magna. A former steelworks, it has been transformedinto an exploration of science andtechnology but with all the origi-nal trappings intact. They evenhave one furnace remaining whichhas been developed into a displaywith fireworks and sound demon-strating what it once would havebeen like working with steel. Fromthe world’s largest indoor bungeejump, the underground in theearth section and the airship sus-pended above the ground, Magnacan accommodate pretty muchanyone for anything. With thenew conference facilities, new‘Fuel’ restaurant and the ability toallow you to place fairground ridesinside for your event, Magna thor-oughly deserved its Enjoy England2006 award for Business Tourism. Ithas to be seen to be believed, itdoes - quite literally - take yourbreath away.

So, South Yorkshire then, is a livelyhub bursting with superb restau-

rants, a bustling nightlife, greatshopping, incredible range ofsporting facilities - everything onecould want from a city and more,and yet with the added bonus ofhaving the country right in thedoorstep. Take your conferencehere in 2008, and I’m certain it willexceed your expectations.

Conference Yorkshire South, Don ValleyStadium, Worksop Road, Sheffield S9 3TL

Tel 0871 700 2214

Web: www.yorkshiresouth.com





International Confex is here again,and following last year’s makeover

– which was rewarded with a 16percent increase in visitors – 2008promises us yet more new features.

The Confex Knowledge educationalprogramme proved to be popularlast time, so it’s back again tospearhead the show’s educationalremit with another strong line-upof keynote and educational speak-ers. The programme includes 45free seminars – plus three keynotesessions – run across four seminartheatres.

Another feature that’s back again isThe Secret Garden. The area willprovide an exciting spa area for visi-tors to enjoy massages and otherfree treatments, taking time outfrom the busy show floor.

As usual, the show will be split intofive easily navigational sectors: UKVenues & Destinations will form thebackbone of the show and a keydraw for the domestic visitors. Newand unusual venues will be in abun-dance - Cardiff Conference Bureau,Folio Hotels, East of England TouristBoard, Experience Nottinghamshireand Blenheim Palace - as well awelcome return of some of themost high profile venues in the UK.

The Corporate Events & Parties sec-tor is one of the most visual areasof the show will showcase some ofthe most innovative creative, the-atrical and inspiring businesses. Setalongside Exhibiting & Events Live,the two sections will provide visi-tors all the back up they need tomaximise the potential of their event.

The London Area will once againbe looking to the nation’s capital,this time focusing on promotingthe most unique and unusual ven-ues London has to offer. A hub ofnetworking, the London Bar willhold events hosted by Barbican,Visit London and ISES on Tuesday12th and Wednesday 13thFebruary.

Finally the renamed InternationalVenues, Destinations & Travel sec-tor will provide some new andestablished international destina-tions and venues from all acrossthe globe. This includes manyreturning big name destinationsafter a long absence includingBrazil and Germany. This is indeeda welcome sign that the eventsindustry is continuing to spread itsinfluence across the globe. Evenmore choice for buyers!

Confex - Preview

Working together givesall-round benefits!

International Confex is here again, and following last year’s makeover – which wasrewarded with a 16 percent increase in visitors –2008 promises us yet more new features.



Merlin claims research showsbuyers not willing to pay forcarbon neutral packagesThe Merlin Entertainments Group survey of 500 cor-porate event organisers has concluded that whilstthey’re aware of environmental issues, they’re simplynot willing to pay to make a difference. Only 39 per-cent felt that such ‘hot topic’ issues were importantwith only 8 percent feeling they were very important.However 76 percent of corporate buyers feel theevents industry as a whole is not doing enough totackle climate change, “showing that they are failingto recognise that the responsibility lies with them,”comments Merlin, the name behind famous venuessuch as Alton Towers, Warwick Castle, LEGOLAND,British Airways London Eye, SEA LIFE, Dungeons,Gardaland, Heide-Park, Chessington World ofAdventures & Zoo and Thorpe Park.

Interestingly, when organisers were asked if they feltenvironmental issues would affect their buying in thefuture, 34 percent said yes. Whilst this is a hot industrytopic at the moment, the reality, says Merlin, is thatpeople are not reacting in a way that will currently pro-mote positive results for the environment. With just 45percent of corporates willing to pay extra for carbonneutral packages, with 2 percent willing to pay up to£15 more, it seems tight corporate budgets are holdingthe industry back from addressing this pressing environ-mental debate.

The simple fact, says Merlin, is that to have an environ-mentally friendly outlook does cost more money whichbusinesses will have to allocate if they want to be seento be green.

Michael Aldridge, Events General Manager for theMerlin Entertainments Group says “It’s apparent fromthe results that awareness of climate change is verymuch out there; however, the budget is not! AtMadame Tussauds, we’re transforming the site into a“green” venue, replacing halogen with L.E.D. lighting,a new air-conditioning system for 2008 that consumes40 percent less energy and we are currently sourcing‘green’ energy suppliers. Plus anyone undertaking anew contract with us will have to show the same com-mitment to green issues, such as caterers to keep theirfood miles down.

We also have a ‘green team’ comprised of, one personfrom each department. Their objective is to make theattraction even more carbon friendly on a day to daybasis and in January, Madame Tussauds was proud tohost a dinner for 250 members of the Green Council.Venues still need to be proactive in their approach totackling climate change and offer affordable “green”packages and hopefully the extra budget will follow”

www.merlinvenues.com

Honour for National TrustProperty Ickworth House

The West Wing at Ickworth struck gold at the AnglianBusiness Awards winning The Outstanding CustomerService award. This prestigious award was collected byIckworth Sales Manager, Mary Myers and GeneralManager, Richard Wheeler. Ickworth House is a NationalTrust property situated in the village of Horringer, nearBury St Edmunds in Suffolk. The 18th Century Georgianhouse stands in 1800 acres of gardens and pleasuregrounds, and was the home to the Hervey family from1928 to 1996.

Sodexho Prestige joined forces with the National Trust in2005 following the extensive redevelopment of theWest Wing at Ickworth House. The West Wing nowboasts a range of wonderful facilities including a fullylicensed public restaurant, conference and banquetingfacilities and external event space for unlimited num-bers. More than 175 functions were held in the WestWing last year including conferences, meetings andweddings.

The Anglian Business Awards is one of the top dates inthe regional business calendar, recognising excellenceand achievement in the local business community.Judges were looking for entrants in this award todemonstrate a high standard of customer service in theirorganisation including innovative and measurableapproaches to customer services with evidence of theirsuccess.

Richard Wheeler, General Manager of The West Wing atIckworth House commented, “We are all totally commit-ted to the high standards at The West Wing and arepassionate about our service where the customer is atthe heart of our business.

There are many factors we feel assist our great customerservice from our dedicated team who are trained to thehighest standard to ‘Success Guaranteed’ an initiativeused by conference and banqueting guests with the aimto further improve customer services, operating stan-dards and food quality. Winning the OutstandingCustomer Service award means an enormous amount tothe team and we look forward to another successfulyear in 2008”.



Venues - Unusual

Exciting, invigorating, exhilarating, adrenalinpumping… not words you would normally associ-

ate with your annual sales conference. We’ve all beenthere - struggling to stay awake through endless pre-sentations while speakers pull all sorts of gimmicks inan attempt to keep you motivated. What if, then,instead of this well-known scenario, you could lifteveryone up and place them in the middle of atheme park or zoo? Instead of staring at four walls,for example, take a trip to Blackpool Pleasure Beachwhere their conference room has panoramic viewsacross South Beach Promenade. Or to Bristol Zoo andGardens where the elegant Clifton Pavilion nestles inthe heart of the zoo. Or perhaps to Alton Towers,which sits within 500 acres of landscaped grounds.

Due to the nature of their main business, themeparks and zoos have huge amounts of space, and are,for me, like stepping into a new and magical world. Idon’t care how old you are, these are some of thefew attractions that still have the ability to excite andamaze the adult mind.

So it’s accepted that theme parks are set in beautifuland often awe inspiring surroundings; but there aremany out there who will argue this is nothing new!‘There are several venues out there which offer suchbreathtaking scenery’ the cynics will cry… But reflectupon the huge amounts of space and great variety ofentertainment offered by theme parks. Of course,this is an area where Blackpool particularly excels,with Stageworks Worldwide Productions enablingthem to put on a bespoke full scale theatrical produc-tion for any type of client.

All theme parks have plenty of on-site car parking,their own excellent catering facilities, and often their

Sarah Evans gets her heart jumping when she investigates the world of Theme Park Venues!



Venues - Unusual

own accommodation too! Alton Towers even has twohotels - one of them with 175 themed bedrooms…Beat that for standing out from the crowd!

Visitors will discover that there is not much they can’toffer a professional organiser, but there is one partic-ular area where I feel that theme parks really excel,and that is team building.

A psychologist will tell us that here is nothing thatbonds people more than a terrifying experience, andif the press is to be believed that is exactly what youwill get at Alton Towers or Drayton Manor, or evenon Europe’s highest rollercoaster at Blackpool pleas-ure beach. These are all available to you when youbook a corporate package, and individual experiencescan be incorporated into the team building experi-ence itself.

With activities like paint balling, go karting and thehigh wires becoming more and more commonplace,using a theme park and really utilising all it has tooffer is a fantastic way to motivate your staff. What’sthat? You don’t fancy dangling upside down severalfeet up in the air? Then try Bristol Zoo where theyoffer activities such as producing a five minute movieor advert, a back to school style sports day or evenplanning and hosting a day out for disadvantagedchildren. Now that’s the caring person’s teambuildingevent and an experience that will surely last a life-time. Or for a more gentle activity you can take a per-sonal guided tour and meet some of the smallermembers of the zoo.

Even if you choose a theme park or zoo not for theteambuilding opportunities but simply becauseyou’re seeking somewhere different, I think it’s theideal setting to keep your staff motivated andawake. Who could fail to pay attention when youknow in an hour you will be either lurching aroundon a pirate ship or having a one on one encounterwith a meerkat? Your team will be relaxed andenjoying themselves, which will make them far moreproductive. Hey - go on! Throw caution to the windand release that inner child!

Facilities available FOR BOOKING

all year round



Events Calendar

Information courtesy of www.paragonsportsmanagement.com | Please check dates with organisers before visiting any venue

Sponsored by Friday’s - the first name in PR for the venues, conferences and meetings industries. www.fridays-group.co.uk | Tel: 020 7268 3794

Feb Event Venue Type24 Six Nations: France v England Stade de France Rugby

24 The League Cup Final Wembley Stadium Football

Mar Event Venue Type8 Tosca The Royal Albert Hall Cultural Events

9 Six Nations: Ireland v Wales Croke Park Rugby

9 Six Nations: Ireland v Wales Murrayfield Rugby

14-16 The Cheltenham National Hunt Festival Cheltenham Racecourse Horse Racing

15 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix Melbourne Motor Racing

15 Six Nations: England v Ireland Twickenham Rugby

21-23 Six Nations: Wales v France Millennium Stadium Rugby

25-31 Formula 1 Malaysian Grand Prix Sepang Motor Racing

28-30 France v England International Friendly Stade de France Paris Football

Apr Event Venue Type5 Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix Sakhir Motor Racing

5-6 The Grand National Aintree Horse Racing

10-13 The FA Cup Semi Finals Wembley Stadium Football

12 The Masters Golf Augusta - Georgia USA Golf

25-27 The EDF Energy Cup Final Twickenham Rugby

Image: www.actionplus.co.ukImage: www.actionplus.co.ukImage: www.actionplus.co.uk


T H E P E R F E C T E V E N T F O R A N Y E V E N T

...the possibilities areendless at confex

all the venues youcould wish for...

register for free entry at www.international-confex.com


In any event, we do things differently

At Mottram Hall, saying we do things differently isn’t just a flimsy proposition. Everything from our banqueting suites

for meetings to outdoor activities such as football on our FA approved pitch, clay pigeon shooting and of course golf

all bear testimony to that. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. At Mottram Hall De Vere Collection we offer you

everythingfromtopendconferences todedicated trainingenvironmentsplusexcellent facilities includingfreeWiFi and

Internet, all organised by people who know everything about being different. So the next time you need to arrange a

team management course, we have just the thing to hone those leadership skills – an intensive session of duck herding.

For more information please call Mottram Hall on 01625 828 135 or visit www.devere.co.uk


corporate venues & entertainment 5

Documents

venues magazine

cv magazine

academic venues

unusual venues p36theme

movers p3the movers

wq open box publishing

hamish reid

sustainabitity p19sarah